The Thailand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TSPCA) and the Friends of the Asian Elephant Foundation, together with partner organisations, have called for an investigation into an incident in which a volunteer allegedly threw a firecracker at Plai Salika, a well-known wild elephant at Khao Yai National Park.

The move follows widespread criticism on social media after footage of the incident circulated online.

On 20 July 2026, the organisations submitted a letter to the chairman of the Animal Cruelty Prevention and Animal Welfare Committee, who is also the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, requesting an official investigation.

In the letter, the groups urged authorities to establish the facts surrounding the incident and take action in accordance with relevant laws. They also called on the government to accelerate amendments to expand legal protections for animals living in the wild under Thailand's Animal Cruelty Prevention and Animal Welfare Act B.E. 2557 (2014).

The organisations said the proposed changes should cover wildlife that frequently comes into contact with people, as well as other wild animals and imported species that are vulnerable to cruelty. They argued that broadening the legal definition of protected wild animals under the Act would strengthen safeguards against animal abuse and improve animal welfare.

The incident involving Plai Salika, one of Khao Yai National Park's best-known wild elephants, has prompted widespread public debate over the treatment of wildlife and the need for stronger legal protection.

Police are preparing to summon 11 people found at a house in Nonthaburi Province and press charges in a local government civil service exam fraud case. On July 20, Deputy Police Commissioner Natthasak Chaonaset announced that authorities have decided to submit findings and details of those involved in the corruption scheme to Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilpraphan by August 5.

The Interior Ministry has filed a complaint with the Suppression Division to pursue cases against those responsible for corruption and leaked exam papers. Investigators will meet this evening to determine which specific charges to file against the 11 suspects found during the house raid and to consider summoning the project administrator as well. Financial investigations are currently underway, and any individuals found to be connected will be prosecuted immediately without exception. The Suppression Division is gathering all evidence before forwarding the case to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Deputy Police Commissioner Natthasak stated that all documents and evidence will be reviewed by the Prime Minister, with information coming from two main sources: the police fact-finding committee and the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Police announced on July 20, 2025, that the investigation into fraud allegations surrounding a local government civil service exam has advanced beyond 70 percent completion. Deputy Commander Pol. Col. Utten Nuayphim of Regional Police Region 6 revealed the findings following the third meeting led by Police Commissioner General Kittarat Panshet, noting that the investigation panel reviewed documentary evidence and testimony from seven witnesses and identified 30 suspicious points warranting further examination across three phases: pre-exam, during-exam, and post-exam procedures, with particular attention to irregularities discovered after testing concluded.

The investigation involves multiple agencies including local government organizations, the Central Committee for Local Government Personnel Management, and the Central Committee for Local Government Employee Recruitment Examination. The panel noted that an external agency was hired to conduct the exam but emphasized it remains under deep investigation. Pol. Col. Utten clarified that the panel's role is limited to fact-finding and legal analysis regarding institutions and individuals, excluding financial tracing, criminal prosecution, or suspect apprehension—responsibilities held by the Central Investigation Command. The investigation committee's findings may provide useful information to criminal authorities if evidence of wrongdoing is discovered, though the committee itself has no criminal investigation authority and is tasked with preparing academic and policy recommendations for the government.

Thailand's Department of Foreign Trade is strengthening cooperation with the European Union to combat trade circumvention and fraudulent origin claims of Thai goods. A Thai delegation participated in a cooperation meeting in Spain from June 28 to July 4, 2025, alongside key EU and Spanish government agencies. The discussions focused on exchanging knowledge and best practices regarding anti-circumvention measures, anti-origin fraud prevention, and rules of origin verification—mechanisms critical to building transparency and confidence in the international trade system.

The Thai delegation held in-depth discussions with EU experts on investigating cases involving anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures, as well as fact-checking procedures for complaints and customs tax fraud prevention. A major focus was the application of digital technology and artificial intelligence to enhance trade oversight. The EU's Office for Anti-Fraud (OLAF) presented its Data Analytics Platform and Anti-Fraud Information System (AFIS), which analyze and cross-reference customs data to detect anomalies such as false origin declarations, undervalued goods, and tariff code manipulation to evade duties.

According to Arada Fuengtong, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade, these approaches represent important models that Thailand can adapt to develop its own risk management and origin verification systems, aimed at preventing fraudulent claims of Thai goods and reducing vulnerability to foreign trade measures. She stated that this cooperation aligns with the Commerce Ministry's policy of elevating international trade oversight standards while facilitating legitimate trade, balancing protection against unfair trade practices with promotion of transparent and fair free trade.

The EU is Thailand's fourth-largest trading partner, after China, the United States, and Japan. In 2024, bilateral trade was valued at $53.3 billion, while the first quarter of 2025 saw trade worth $12.22 billion, a 20.14% increase year-on-year, underscoring the European market's critical importance to Thai exporters. Businesses must strictly comply with rules of origin regulations to maintain the credibility and competitiveness of Thai goods in global markets.

Denla Kindergarten has invested over 25 million baht to develop Denla Learning Commons, a 1,000-square-meter learning space designed to reshape early childhood education in response to changing parental expectations and global shifts in educational philosophy. The facility encourages children to think, play, and learn through hands-on experience, moving away from the school's traditional focus on preparing children for selective primary school admissions.

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Toyos Paldetpong, executive board member of Denla Schools and Denla Kindergarten Phetchkasem branch, the facility reflects how parents now prioritize helping children discover their own potential, develop critical thinking, build confidence in communication, and learn to work with others—rather than focusing solely on test scores. The five zones include Wonder Garden for developing thinking and imagination through LEGO and Minecraft Education; Sound Garden for music and expression; Discovery Garden for language and communication skills; Play Zone, a mock city with settings like cafes, hospitals, supermarkets, and fire stations for role-play learning; and Kids Club for children aged six months to three years, where parents and children learn together.

Denla's early childhood research found that modern parents prioritize five key elements: personalized learning suited to each child, spaces for experiential learning, development of uniquely human skills that AI cannot replace (such as creativity, communication, and collaboration), cultivation of future skills from early childhood, and opportunities for children to discover their own strengths. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Toyos emphasized that opening Denla Learning Commons reflects a broader shift in early childhood education from memorization and academic pressure toward building life skills and sustainable learning abilities that will serve children throughout their lives.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Watchrapol Khaokhram has explained the government's response to calls for accelerating clearance of boxed milk stock accumulated by the Thai Dairy Promotion Organization (TDPO), which has become a financial and liquidity burden due to poor market distribution. Over the past week, he and his team have closely monitored and analyzed the TDPO's situation to develop measures addressing excess inventory, milk oversupply, and accumulated losses on a sustainable basis.

Khaokhram has ordered the TDPO to urgently clear stock before expiration "with full operational efficiency" through intensive marketing campaigns, acting promptly before additional products expire in October. Before the TDPO seeks state budget support, comprehensive measures and alternative financing must be arranged to maintain liquidity and sustain business recovery.

For expired boxed milk, Khaokhram has instructed the Department of Livestock to consult with researchers, relevant agencies, and the Thai Rubber Organization to explore using expired milk for animal feed protein supplementation and treating rubber tree leaf disease.

"Personally, I don't understand how so much stock was allowed to expire," Khaokhram said. "Efficient management is the direct responsibility of state enterprises." He acknowledged the TDPO faces increased competition and market saturation but urged the organization to improve management efficiency, particularly in cost control and marketing. He cited Milk Land, an ice cream franchise that effectively moved fresh milk and generated revenue, questioning why such ventures were abandoned.

The TDPO was once a highly capable state enterprise that won model enterprise awards for several consecutive years and generated nearly a billion baht annually. The ministry must analyze why revenue has declined and losses accumulated over the past six to seven years. Expanding marketing channels and implementing strategic sales approaches may be the path to recovery for both the TDPO and Thai dairy farmers.

Deputy Permanent Secretary Aphai Suttisangkh revealed that following a recent children's and youth milk nutrition committee meeting on July 20, discussions focused on establishing guidelines for school milk procurement covering 260 days annually so students receive continuous nutritional supplements throughout the school year. The committee also addressed schools seeking to join the program but unable to meet existing criteria, seeking fair management solutions for all parties.

The committee also approved in principle expanding the school milk supplementation program to junior secondary students in opportunity schools, to begin in the first semester of the 2027 school year, pending central budget allocation and detailed guidelines from the committee.